Master of Dragons, Part 1 (complete)
Chapter 19

Where did she even begin? So much new information, and so much to process.

First, she needed to speak to Vivva.

Before that, she needed to cover herself. But… How? She went to touch a piece of stray hay. It was crisp under her fingertips, and did not burn. What triggered the burning?

With a small grunt, she forced herself into a kneeling position. Gods, it was hard to move. It did not matter; she would figure things out as they happened. She had things to do, and if nothing else, she got things done.

Her legs shook under her as she stood, she was sure she looked like a newborn foal. Unsteady as she was, she continued to force herself onto her feet.

Her eye caught a waterskin near her. She grabbed it, chugging it back.

The water was cool against her parched throat, and she already started to feel better.

Clothes were risky, so instead she pulled the blanket of scales around her, and tied it around her shoulder. It would do for now. It was considerably revealing, alas she did care for modesty anymore. She found her dagger, and strapped it to her thigh, then her sword to her hips.

Vivva. Gods, she had been so ignorant to Landborn problems.

As hard as it was, she needed to face the fact she knew nothing. Her City was rather secluded, and because of that she had no idea how heavily Landborn suffered. Her father taught her about the different tribes, but never went in depth about such things. And Elric... She would have to ask him what he knew. She suspected alot.

With wobbly legs, she strapped her sword to her hip. With a happy dragon, she forced herself through the door and into the light.

She blinked, blinded by the brightness of the sun, and the reflection of the snow. Snow? Had they traveled so far that the climate had changed? She had been out for 2 weeks, and far as she knew the Zepan border was at least 2 months travel from her town by horse. Perhaps this Caravan had a magic spell for fast travels on it? Either way, despite the way her breath fogged, and her skin steamed, she was not cold.

Figures melted from the light, creating an array of shapes. As her eyes adjusted, the shapes created faces. It was the people of the caravan, eyes wide and on her. She blinked, watching as the whispers started, and grew as they grew closer to her. She stepped down from the door, now becoming level with them all.

It was a child who stepped forward first, wrapped in a wool coat and fluffy scarf. He wrung his hands together, all up his hands were burns, but his eyes squinted happily. It was the kid she saved from the goblin. He was alive? That thrilled her.

“Thank you!” He yelled, before thrusting his hand forth. It was a shiny rock. She smiled at the boy, before taking the rock. He beamed at her, bowed to her dragon, then rushed off. His little feet left footprints in the snow.

“Thank you.” Another person said, before bowing to her dragon and drifting away from the crowd.

Various murmurs of thanks followed, but the crowed only seemed to grow.

She couldn’t go back inside now, right? She gripped the hilt of her sword, before forcing a smile. It was hard being polite, and having so many eyes on her. She nodded, shook hands, and refused gifts. People tried to gift her ribbons, jewelry, and cloth, but she denied them all. The little stone was enough for her. She did not need their thanks either, but was too polite to turn them down. It was rude enough to turn down the gifts.

Her dragon looked proud. After they would try gift her, they would then bow to the dragon. She knew dragons were important, but she didn’t realize just how much. Her dragon’s chest puffed up, her lovely scales matching the fresh snow. The dragons head reached her hip now, it would seem she had grown a lot while she was out. She seemed to be the same height as pup now. She bit back the pain of that thought, and forced it to the back of her mind. Greif was for later.

“Back to work.” It was Athelstan, his green eyes were focused on her despite the crowed of people. As if wind blew through them, the people parted to make way. He walked towards her, eyes alight. The people began to disperse, until it was only her and him.

His lips pulled into a small smirk, and his eyes glinted as they roamed up and down her body. “Feeling better, I see?” He joked, his tone a hum that made her insides twist. He too, was in winter gear. He wore a black coat that reached to his knees, and seemed to be lined with fur. His flame-colored hair stood out against the white expanse behind him. Fields? How odd to see fields of snow in midsummer.

The man held out his hand, eyes glancing to her side. He wanted her hand again? Oh. It was the Athelstan from the market. She could tell by the way he watched her, as if he was a beast who was stalking his prey. Goosebumps rose across the skin of her arms, but it was not from the cold. She held out her hand, albeit a bit reluctantly. He took it, before leaning in and pressing his cool lips against her skin. A formal curtesy that seemed out of place, yet she could not resist his wiles.

This was not the Athelstan from the day of the attack, who wore nonchalance and silence. That Athelstan was quiet, and showed little interest in her.

This one… Showed a little too much interest.

Both were hard for her to deal with. Was there two of them? Twins? Different personality? It was something she would need to ask-

He threaded his fingers through hers, making her quickly pull back in surprise. He however, he had already captured her hand. “Come, we must replace you clothes. You cannot walk barefoot in snow.” His tone said that was final. She looked to her feet, and blinked. Indeed she was barefoot, but she did not feel the cold. Instead, the snow seemed to melt to her touch, showing the rock underneath. The same seemed to be for her dragon, not feeling the cold. No snow seemed to be able to last around their body heat. She took a step with the man, watching as the snow melted around her feet. It did not melt as fast as it did around her dragon, but it was obvious her body was a higher temperature then most humans. Yet, she felt fine.

Ah.

She felt the man’s thumb caress the back of her hand, bringing her back to reality.

She was not getting caught up in his ploy, whatever it may be! She quickly pulled away, forcing her hand out of his. He blinked, before tilting his head, then looking to his hand. He looked… Sad?

No!

She would not fall for it.

“I already-” She paused; a bit unsure how to word her intentions. Alas, he was hosting her for the weeks while she healed, so she did not want to be overly rude either. “I don’t seem to need clothes.” She looked around, seeing that people were packing up. It looked like it was only supposed to be a short stop. Was it because of her? No, it couldn’t be.

“We cannot just let a Dragon and their partner roam without shoes, now can we?” Athelstan hummed, eyeing her hand once again. She took another step back, out of reach. It was too easy to get lost in his charisma, she rather not touch him again.

“I have something I need t-to do.” She said, eyes roaming over the people around them. It was not a lie, after all she had spotted Zali, the Felidae Demi-born from the night of the attack. They had worked together alongside Vivva, so he likely knew where the man was. Zali had sleek black fur, and large pointed ears that made him a bit easier to spot against the snow. His muzzle pulled into a smile when he spotted her looking at him, his paw like hand going up to wave. That was, until he spotted Athelstan. He stopped, hand midway up. It was enough for her to use, though. “Th-Thank you.” She bowed politely to Athelstan, before slipping past him and toward Zali. Bright catlike eyes looked between her and the dragon, then her and Athelstan.

Zali looked as if he had something he wished to ask, but instead he simply smiled, his long canine teeth flashing. “Hey, shrimp.” He went to ruffle her hair, but stopped when the wind suddenly blew. He pulled his hand back, instead opting to keep smiling at her. He seemed to be the same as the night they worked together, and she was thankful for that.

Although she was female, he was treating her as he did before.

She preferred it like this. “Hey Zali.” She glanced around, looking for Vivva. Evasive man, he was. “Do you know where Vivva is?” She asked. Zali blinked, before reaching to scratch his chin. Dramatic, she giggled.

“Aye, but he hasn’t been in a good mood these days.” Zali shrugged, before picking up an armful of blankets. “Follow me, hm?” He nodded his muzzle in a direction.

“Th-this needs to be moved?” She asked. There was another box from where he had picked up the blankets. He nodded, and she picked it up, hoisting it onto her good shoulder. She was weak, but she was not one to let that hold her back. Zali laughed, shaking his head, before motioning her to follow him. She did, grateful he was taking smaller steps for her. His legs were much longer than hers.

Her heart twisted. Zali, kind as he was, was also discriminated against like Vivva.

It was unfair.

Warmth surged through her, but she gulped it back, focusing on the man in front of her.

One step at a time.